How does the night sky look like in Gyeonggi Province now that winter has finally arrived? There are plenty of exciting places around Gyeonggi Province at night. There are places featuring light fixtures that illuminate the night sky, emulating stars twinkling in different colors to create a romantic atmosphere, as well as places where you can enjoy Gyeonggi Province’s vistas under the night sky.

If you’re looking for a special place to enjoy with family, friends or loved ones, how about visiting some of these hot spots around Gyeonggi Province that will reward you with magnificent night views?

Anseong Machum Astronomical Science Museum

Located inside Ansung Machum Land, the Anseong Machum Astronomical Science Museum is an astronomical observatory that features great access so that anyone can visit without any added worries. The museum is a place where children can vividly experience the wonders of our universe and learn about our dreams in astronomy. For adults, it’s a place that brings back memories of counting the stars in the night sky.

Using the museum’s telescope, visitors can observe sunspots appearing on the sun during the day and look at constellations, planets, gas clouds, and more during the night. Inside the ‘4D Video Hall’, a popular attraction among children, the seats are synchronized with the video as visitors watch a feature on astronomy projected onto the Hall’s domed ceiling. A variety of other effects such as water, wind, and fog are added to the program, giving visitors an exciting viewing experience that stimulates all five senses.

• Address 198-9, Namsadang-ro, Bogae-myeon, Anseong-si, Gyeonggi Province
• Inquiries 031-675-6975
• Website Hyperlink
• Opening hours 1st session – 14:00, 2nd session – 16:00, 3rd session -17:00, 4th session – 20:00, 5th session – 21:00 (Viewing/activities take 50 minutes, 3rd session only available on Sundays)
• Admissions Adults KRW 4,000, Children/adolescents/senior citizens KRW 2,000

Pocheon Herb Island ‘Light and Fairy Tale Story Festival’ and Pocheon Art Valley ‘Astronomical Science Hall’

The ‘Light and Fairy Tale Story Festival’ at Pocheon Herb Island is an annual winter event featuring a beautiful symphony of light created by small light bulbs. In 2016, the festival, titled ‘Lighting & Illumination’, promises to be an even more glamorous and romantic occasion.

• Address 35, Cheongsin-ro 947beon-gil, Sinbuk-myeon, Pocheon-si, Gyeonggi Province
• Inquiries 031-535-6494
• Website Hyperlink
• Opening hours 09:00-22:00 (Fridays, Saturdays 09:00-23:00)
• Admissions General public KRW 6,000, Children/senior citizens/people of national merit KRW 4,000

Pocheon Art Valley, which reclaimed an abandoned stone quarry and transformed the area into a venue for some ‘healing’ using culture and art, is another hot spot for nocturnal tourism in Pocheon. The nightscape of Cheonjuho Lake you see while riding the monorail from the entrance is superb, and the beautiful starlight you see at the astronomical science hall at the top of Pocheon Art Valley is truly moving.

• Address 234, Artvalley-ro, Sinbuk-myeon, Pocheon-si, Gyeonggi Province
• Inquiries 031-538-3488
• Website Hyperlink
• Opening hours 09:00-20:50 (November – February)
• Admissions Free

Petite France ‘Le Petit Prince Starlight Festival’ and The Garden of Morning Calm ‘Lighting Festival’

‘Petite France’, a small piece of France in Gapyeong, hosts the ‘Le Petit Prince Starlight Festival’ in each winter. Colorful and brilliant lights are installed all over the park, which features French-styled buildings. The light fixtures and sculptures including a Christmas tree and backdrops from the Le Petit Prince fill the park with romance and make visitors feel like they’ve been teleported into a fairy tale.

• Address 616, Goseong-ri, Cheongpyeong-myeon, Gapyeong-gun, Gyeonggi Province
• Inquiries 031-584-8200
• Website Hyperlink
• Opening hours 09:00~20:00
• Admissions Adults KRW 8,000, Adolescents KRW 6,000, Children KRW 5,000

Celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, the ‘Lighting Festival’ at the Garden of Morning Calm is always something to look forward to. The entire garden, which encompasses a total area of 130,000m², is covered with lights in various colors. The Garden of Morning Calm features Hagyeong Garden, a garden that represents starlight streaking into a garden under a wintery night sky, as well as the Morning Plaza, Road to Heaven, and Moonlight Garden.

• Address 432, Sumogwon-ro, Sang-myeon, Gapyeong-gun, Gyeonggi Province
• Inquiries 1544-6703
• Website Hyperlink
• Opening hours 08:30-21:00 (Saturdays 08:30-23:00)
• Admissions Adults KRW 9,000, Adolescents KRW 6,500, Children KRW 5,500 (Weekend, public holiday rates)

Flying Suwon and Sunset Observatory

The stationary helium-filled ‘Flying Suwon’ balloon is a new attraction in Suwon that enables you to simultaneously enjoy the beautiful night view of Suwon Hwaseong Fortress and Suwon City. Once you board the balloon, you can enjoy the thrill of rising through the sky at a rapid pace and savor the view from above. When the balloon reaches a height of 150m above ground, it remains stationary for six to seven minutes. During that time, passengers can walk around the circular gondola and take in Suwon’s magnificent 360-degree night view.

• Address 697, Gyeongsu-daero, Paldal-gu, Suwon-si, Gyeonggi Province
• Inquiries 031-247-1300
• Website Hyperlink
• Opening hours 09:30-21:00
• Admissions Adults KRW 18,000, Adolescents KRW 17,000, Children KRW 15,000, Suwon citizens KRW 12,000

When you stand near Paldalmun, the southern gate of Hwaseong Fortress, you’ll spot a grand old church with a towering spire. That church is Suwon Jeil Church, and right below the steel spire 9the tallest section of the church) is the Sunset Observatory. It offers a particularly beautiful view of the sun setting over Paldalsan Mountain, and you can also enjoy the nightscape of Suwon that features glittering lights along the walls of Hwaseong Fortress and nearby areas.

• Address 3, Paldalmun-ro 57beon-gil, Paldal-gu, Suwon-si, Gyeonggi Province (Suwon Jeil Church)
• Inquiries 031-244-1004
• Website Hyperlink
• Opening hours 09:00-18:00 (Receive written notice and key at the security office on the first floor of the church after opening hours)
• Admissions Free

‘Songam Space Center’

The Songam Space Center is a place where you can observe the stars and experience space at the same time. The first place you’ll arrive at is the ‘Space Center’. Inside the ‘Planetarium’ on the first floor, visitors can view the night sky with stars twinkling throughout the half-dome screen and enjoy space indoors.

Once you’ve finished your tour around the Space Center, you can move onto the observatory at the summit of the mountain using the cable car station located on the opposite side. Visitors can listen to a staff member and learn about the positions of constellations, their names, and origins. After that, they can move up onto the rooftop plaza and begin observing the stars.  

• Address 185, Gwonyul-ro, Jangheung-myeon, Yangju-si, Gyeonggi Province
• Inquiries 031-894-6000
• Website Hyperlink
• Opening hours 11:00-21:00 (closed on Sundays)
• Admissions Observatory ticket – Adults KRW 22,000, Elementary/middle/high school students KRW 20,000, Kindergarten students KRW 18,000

Bucheon ‘World Nightview Fantasy Lighting Festival’

Bucheon Aiins World features 1/25 scale miniature replicas of 68 world-famous buildings from 24 countries including UNESCO World Heritage Sites and the seven wonders of the modern world.

At night, Aiins World begins its ‘World Nightview Fantasy Light Festival’. Light fixtures installed around the park as well as those installed inside and outside the miniature buildings add to the splendor of Aiins World that begins right from the main entrance. Here you can view models of renowned buildings from all over the world.

• Address 1, Doyak-ro, Bucheon-si, Gyeonggi Province
• Inquiries 032-320-6000
• Website Hyperlink
• Opening hours 17:00-23:00 (Aiinsworld daytime hours 10:00-17:00)
• Admissions Adults KRW 16,000, Children KRW 13,000 (12 years old or under)

Source: Gyeonggi Tourism Organization web portal

http://www.gg.go.kr/archives/3664406?ggd_term_id=7699